Page 9 - FIS World

Anouk with a local Ethiopian family
What inspired FIS Grade 2 stu- dent, Anouk, to spend her
fall break volunteering in Ethiopia?
For years, Anouk had seen photos and heard stories from her mother, Stella, about her trips to Africa. Stella and her husband, Steen, helped to found PfefferminzGreen, an organiza- tion that works together with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through the plat- form of the arts, PfefferminzGreen raises funds here in Germany to sup- port community development proj- ects like those in Sierra Leone and Ethiopia.
Anouk had always desired to know more about the children in her moth- er’s photos. At the age of five, she began asking if she could go on one of the trips to Ethiopia, and finally, at age seven, her mother said yes. She pre- pared Anouk to realize that this would not be a holiday, that this would not be the Africa seen in safari books, and that there would be careful precau- tions to take. Anouk’s response? “It’s ok... I’d like to see it.”
So this past October, Anouk and Stella embarked together on their adventure to Ethiopia. Each day, they
“I think children are stronger than we think. They see it with different eyes.”
visited a different Pfefferminz Green-sponsored project. Stella would meet with the project staff while Anouk met the children. Through using hand gestures and crafting with Rainbow Loom bands, they were able to connect through the international language of all children: play. Making loom bracelets, visiting a woman’s three square meter home, and serving lunch to school children through a feeding project were a few of Anouk’s highlights of the week.
Each night during the trip, Anouk and Stella digested the realities of what they had seen. Stella was amazed by how well Anouk handled her expe- riences. “I think children are stronger than we think. They see it with differ- ent eyes,” she explains. Anouk’s “eyes” really do reveal wisdom and compas- sion well beyond her years... where one person might have only seen pov- erty, sickness, and struggle, she saw joy, kindness and beauty.
After returning from the trip, Anouk now has her own stories and photos to share. She even spoke to her Dutch class about her experiences. Anouk says that some of the biggest lessons learned were “to not complain about food... to not leave the water run- ning... and to not complain about the dresses you wear.” She also says that she would like to go back, but will wait until she’s older. For now, Anouk wants to raise more money for the children and to keep telling others her stories... so they, too, can have the chance to really “see” the people of Ethiopia.
Amy Wilkins, FIS Parent
February 2015 FIS World 7